Crafts, cats and midwestern charm.

Paper Flower Mania

Periodically, I get myself in way over my head with a project. Some readers here might remember how I managed to plan a full-blown wedding in just five months. Or that time when I worked my fingers literally raw making this tarot card for an art show. Or, most recently, when I spent every spare minute for six weeks making hoops for a craft show.

I know how to do it, folks. Step one: Take on giant projects, no questions asked. Step two: Work yourself into a frenzy and don’t stop ’til it’s done. Step three: Spend an excessive amount of time recouping from that mania. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Which brings me to my latest giant project! Last month I helped a good family friend decorate for her daughter’s baby shower. She’s so generous and thoughtful, so it goes without saying that she wanted this shower to be incredibly special.

That’s where I come in (not to toot my own horn). To take this pineapple-themed shower from 10/10 to 11/10, I was recruited to make a few tropical centerpieces to decorate the tables. Since I’m an OK flower arranger, I suggested that I fix up some centerpieces for the party. Unfortunately, the mom-to-be is allergic to flowers. Fortunately, I spent a lot of time last year learning how to make paper flowers. It was the perfect opportunity to get me back into my paper flower groove while also being useful. Win-win!

With some templates from Lia Griffith (and only a week to work once my supplies arrived!), I went to town making paper ginger flowers, heliconia, birds of paradise, pincushion proteas, Cala lilies and a whole mess of greens. I put my Cricut to work cutting out dozens of leaves, but when it came to the flowers, well, let’s just say it was all hands on deck!

In the midst of my paper flower frenzy.

In the end, I made nine centerpieces. There were a few late nights putting all these together, but that’s what reruns of Unsolved Mysteries are for!

After I finished up with this, my first big project of 2018, I basked in the glory of a job well done and binge watched plenty of 30 Rock. Now, after resting, it’s time for another big project. Like I said, lather, rinse, repeat.